College football experts see Michigan Wolverines vying for top 10 finish in 2012

AP File PhotoDenard Robinson may get all the headlines, but Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (28), who rushed for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns last season, should be a big contributor to the Wolverines offense in 2012.

Michigan head coach Brady Hoke is making all the headlines for his top-rated recruiting classes, almost to the extent people have taken focus off what he did in his rookie season as Michigan's head football coach. All he did, says ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, "in his first year at Michigan was win 11 games and knock off Ohio State." Add to that a BCS win over Virginia Tech and, yeah, that's a pretty solid 2011-12 campaign.

All eyes are on the future, though, and college football websites and publications are already giving their take on where the Wolverines fall in the rankings. Here's a sample of what they have to say:

Sports Illustrated (13): It's all about attitude for Andy Staples, who points out the Wolverines' return to emphasizing the Big Ten championship: "'One of the things coach really emphasizes is that last year we failed,' Kovacs told The Associated Press. 'It wasn't a successful season. The mission each and every year is to win a Big Ten championship and we didn't do that. At the end of the day, we didn't get what we wanted so that makes us even hungrier for next year.' To reach their goals, the Wolverines will have to end Michigan State's four-year ownership of their series. Where's the threat? Nowhere, unless Michigan can win that game."

FOX Sports (9): Defensively, Michigan is expected to maintain or improve at all three levels. And while FOX Sports ranks the Wolverines in the top 10, "it might take one more season for Michigan to truly be back to being Michigan, but everything is on the right track with one of the nation’s top recruiting classes coming in and a great base of talent in place to work around. Quarterback Denard Robinson (pictured) is back for one more season before he becomes an NFL receiver, but he’ll lose target Junior Hemingway and he’ll have to run – especially in the opener against Alabama – behind a line that has to replace center David Molk and right tackle Mark Huyge."

Athlon Sports (1-16?): Technically, the website hasn't established where they rank the Wolverines, as they're counting down their top 25, releasing each team daily and Michigan has yet to appear. But it's a pretty safe bet Michigan will be in Athlon's top 16 because Wisconsin is ranked 17th and Michigan State is 18th. Athlon says the Spartans – top 10 in some publications – will finish third in the Legends Division. There's little to no chance the Wolverines will be left out of their top 25, ergo, top 16 it is.

ESPN (10): Like Athlon, the four-letter network is counting down its top 25. Unlike Athlon, ESPN released its list, which has Michigan rounding out the top 10. Herbstreit and company break down each team in a video roundtable, but the Wolverines are two away, so we'll have to wait to hear their thoughts on whether Hoke can follow up 2011 with a Big Ten championship.

Yahoo! Sports (8): Look for another year of fireworks from the offense with the return of Denard Robinson and Fitz Toussaint, says Mike Huguenin. Toussaint "became a dependable option as (the 2011) season wore on. Refining the passing attack will be important during spring practice. So will rebuilding the defensive line; three starters are leaving. The back seven on defense has a ton of promise, and it will be interesting to see how coordinator Greg Mattison deploys his guys."